Matarkai young entrepreneurs get boost to develop their businesses
DPI, Guyana, Monday, June 4, 2018
Young entrepreneurs from Fitzburg, Oronoque, One Mile, Four Miles and Arakaka in the Matarkai sub-District, Region One (Barima Waini) received support that will aid in the expansion of their businesses.
These youths are part of a batch of young people who recently completed skills training through Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS). Some of them started their own businesses, while others opted to further their studies at higher institutions of learning.
The equipment, which included catering kits, sewing machine, gas stove, computers and printers, farming, mechanic and plumbing tools were handed over by Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock during a ministerial outreach to the region.
At a simple handing over ceremony at the Port Kaituma Secondary School, Minister Allicock explained that the equipment will serve as a boost since the youths would have already started their businesses with the monies they received at the end of the one-year training programme.
The Minister reminded that the HEYS programme was established with the aim of preparing youths to take up leadership roles within their communities. He encouraged the youths to make full use of the opportunity.
The Hinterland Employment and Youth Service programme is geared at empowering some 4,000 Indigenous youths in close to 200 Hinterland communities.
Earlier this year, President David Granger established the Guyana Youth Service (GYS) which is to be responsible for consolidating all of the youth programmes, including HEYS, and to offer a standardised education and training curriculum for youths.
While the GYS will fall under the purview of the Social Cohesion Ministry, there will be formal and informal liaisons with Ministries that are currently involved in implementing youth programmes.
By: Synieka Thorne.